DNA Confirms Wolves Killed Alaska Teacher (Craig, Metlakatla: to rent, homeowners insurance, how much)

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by tigre79

That can be said for many other breeds as well. Many common family pets were historically bred for high prey drives or territorial behavior. Its very important for parents to teach children how to interact with animals, and I think it's also important that people not pretend that children never provoke animals.

Working in vet clinics and boarding kennels, I've met dozens of pits, most of whom shared homes with children, and haven't seen any of that sort of unprovoked aggression. I've seen it in other breeds like chows and shar peis and many, many spoiled little yappy dogs that can be quite dangerous for very small children. If it's innate in a breed you should see that behavior in a wide cross-section of them, not primarily in those that are owned by gang-bangers and other assorted idiots.

I do think that the one good thing about their reputation is that responsible owners are likely to make sure they're trained and well-socialized in order to prevent any problems, whereas many owners of other breeds just assume that their dogs are harmless.

I'm sure that you've seen the better, more responsible pit owners working in boarding kennels and vet clinics. And there seems to be a really healthy "pit bull rescue" movement that's admirable. But the flip side...well, I've lived among it.

The behavior of some parents and their children truly amazes me, by the way...a bit off topic so but so what...I can't tell you the number of times when I've been out with my wolf hybrid and some little kid has literally run up to him shouting "doggie doggie I want to pet the doggie" or some such, with parents smiling vapidly at their little darling. Parents need to educate their children better about approaching strange dogs.

It's probably unrealistic to think that phasing them out would ever happen...it would probably just result illegal, backyard breeding, dogs that are never taken to the vet, that sort of thing., and would possibly make the situation worse. This dog fighting business needs to be seriously cracked down on, though.

[alaskandog]

And that's what they've done. And responsible petowners such as myself have suffered for it immensley. But to say a pit bite is worse then a great Dane bite how is that not equivelent? Both have caused fatalitiies butthere are no Dane bans anywhere. Or how about wolf hybrids. There are tons of people owning that breed which isn't even all the way a domesticated dog but peopleare still allowed to own them very few states have actually banned them and I'm not going after a certain breed because anything w a set of teeth bites but why should one breed suffer more then the other they all have the capability to kill a child or adult yet the pit breed is constantly harrassed and there the biggest cse for abuse.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by alaskandog

And that's what they've done. And responsible petowners such as myself have suffered for it immensley. But to say a pit bite is worse then a great Dane bite how is that not equivelent? Both have caused fatalitiies butthere are no Dane bans anywhere. Or how about wolf hybrids. There are tons of people owning that breed which isn't even all the way a domesticated dog but peopleare still allowed to own them very few states have actually banned them and I'm not going after a certain breed because anything w a set of teeth bites but why should one breed suffer more then the other they all have the capability to kill a child or adult yet the pit breed is constantly harrassed and there the biggest cse for abuse.

How many Great Danes have fatally attacked humans or other pets in recent years?

[Murph23]

It has nothing to do with teeth. Yes, Great Danes have teeth and are capable of biting a person. Any breed is. A pitbull tends to lock onto the human/animal it is biting...and that is where the damage is done. A pit has incredibly strong jaws...as do rotties and german shepards.

This argument could go on forever. Be thankful you have pits that are sweet. I took a chance with my dog...and make no mistake, it was a chance. I am lucky he turned out so great. But there are others who have taken a chance on a pit or pit mix and did not end up so lucky.

[blueflames50]

how a English Mastiff deals with annoying Chihuahua...

http://www.youtube.com/embed/C-FNfKZrSTs

[alaskandog]

Idk on Danes if you have time you can Google it I know the great Dane breed was banned from akc. Events or registry for a long time due to there attitude. One of my clients own an 11 yr old chow never bit anyone. There supposed to be dangerous too she's a 68 yr old lady. The dog reflects the owner. If I were hooked to a small chain with no attention or lack of shelter. Food. Or water I would bite too. If the dog bites blame the incompetent owner not every Fido that an individual owns. Dobermans can do horrific damage. They have yet to be banned. Pit bulls are the hype now. Give it time it will be another dog. Hopefully not your breed of choice.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by alaskandog

Idk on Danes if you have time you can Google it I know the great Dane breed was banned from akc..

I had time to google that and found nothing of the sort.

American Kennel Club - Great Dane

[wildchild_to]

Just all the more reason to carry a CCW gun or spray, in the wild you never know what you are going to run in to. A bear, wild pack of dogs , wolves, coyotes pack or pissed off moose. Alaska is a very large place, you could fall beak an ankle and be days before you get out an you are easy pray for the wildlife.

Again, not preparing is preparing to fail.

[wildchild_to]

Originally Posted by Murph23

I was referring to your grammar. And what was your original screen name btw? Something about this is familiar...

Oh and I own a pit/lab mix. Biggest baby you've ever met. That doesn't change the fact that pit bulls account for a high number of fatalities/maulings in the US every year. .

I have had two run inn's with two pits inside the of the city limits and they both meet their maker.
The 10mm stop pit bulls dead in there tracks. Then both owners were charged with unsecured lose dogs.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Glitch

Not true. It depends on the breed. Mastiffs, for example, are terrible at retrieving, and they suck at hunting, and they are more likely to eat your sheep than herd them. However, they make excellent guardians, and some Mastiff breeds love to pull and carry. They were not bred to fight other critters, they were the original "dogs of war." They were bred to fight other humans, but today they are "man's best friend."


.

Oh, I didn't mean that breeds are interchangeable...they certainly aren't. What I meant was that most dogs can be taught to retrieve a tennis ball, for instance...even though my hybrid has absolute disdain for that, he can do it. But on second thought I doubt that just any dog can be taught to herd sheep.